Journalist Imran Riaz Khan arrested from Islamabad Toll Plaza

Senior journalist and Specific Information anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan, essentially the most vocal critic of the ruling coalition, was arrested from Islamabad Toll Plaza late on Tuesday disregarding the truth that a court docket has already granted him a pre-arrest bail.

Imran Riaz, who’s at the moment related to Specific Information, has been implicated in a slew of instances which he says had been motivated by his refusal to “cease talking the reality”.

Of late, over a dozen FIRs have been registered in opposition to him on fees as severe as abetment of mutiny and criticism of the state establishments.

In a video of his arrest, which went viral on social media, over a dozen policemen of Punjab Police will be seen surrounding his automobile.

Reportedly, he was arrested in a case lodged on the Attock police station and was taken to the identical district.

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Within the video, Riaz will be heard saying that he was coming to the federal capital to get bail from the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom (IHC). “I don’t assume this [arrest] makes any distinction.. I’m requesting all journalists to lift your voice and proceed performing your duties,” he stated, including that the arrest was a transparent contempt of court docket.

“That is Islamabad’s jurisdiction the place I’m being arrested as a result of Toll Plaza begins from right here. Justice Athar Minallah [Chief Justice Islamabad High Court] has additionally granted me bail so on this state of affairs this arrest is improper. I’ve to seem in his court docket to get bail within the morning,” the journalist may very well be heard as saying within the video.

“It makes no distinction whether or not they imprison me or kill me or no matter they do… I feel we must always proceed performing our duties… I’m requesting all journalists to lift your voice and hold doing all of your jobs.

“I’m going to offer arrest with braveness… will see what occurs subsequent… my automobile and weapons have been snatched [by authorities] and 20 FIRs had been registered in opposition to me.”

Punjab Regulation Minister Malik Ahmad confirmed the event however stated that Imran Riaz was arrested within the limits of Rawalpindi division as instances in opposition to him had been registered in Punjab.

“The impression that the arrest was made in Islamabad is improper,” he added.

Police sources instructed The Specific Tribune that directions to arrest the journalist had been acquired from Lahore and his belongings together with cell phone and pockets had been additionally later seized by the police officers.

They stated makes an attempt had been made to cowl up his arrest however the Attock police later confirmed the event after the footage of his arrest went vial on social media.

Police crew headed by the RPO Rawalpindi stated that Riaz was later shifted to Airport Police Station within the federal capital.

Additionally learn: Journalist Ayaz Amir attacked in Lahore

The police officers stated the journalist was arrested in a case registered at Metropolis Attock police station on the criticism of a citizen named Malik Mureed Abbas below the Digital Crimes Act and 6 different sections.

Within the FIR, the citizen acknowledged that he noticed a video on social media wherein Riaz tried to tarnish the picture of a state establishment.

The journalist had filed a petition within the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom to keep away from arrest, on which the court docket directed the authorities involved to not arrest him and directed the journalist to co-operate with the legislation enforcement businesses.

“There have been 17 instances registered in opposition to Imran Riaz Khan throughout Punjab. After we filed a petition within the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom, the court docket had directed the authorities involved throughout the nation to not arrest him,” his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq stated.

He added that they’d additionally filed a petition within the Lahore Excessive Courtroom (LHC) on which the choose had directed the Punjab police chief to offer a replica of the instances and to not arrest him. The lawyer stated that he’ll file a petition within the Islamabad Excessive Courtroom in opposition to the arrest and hoped that the honourable judges would take strict motion in opposition to the violators of the court docket orders and guarantee his launch.

Arrest extensively condemned

Hashtags in favour of the incarcerated journalist stared trending quickly after information of his arrest went viral on social media.

Condemning the arbitrary arrest of the journalist, former PM Imran stated, “The nation is descending into fascism simply to make our nation settle for an Imported Govt comprising of mega crooks. It’s time for everybody, esp the media, to unite & get up in opposition to this fascism.”

Condemning the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan, PTI chief Shahbaz Gill stated, “Imran Riaz is a patriotic Pakistani {and professional} journalist. He brings the reality to the folks with sincerity.”

“[I] strongly condemn the arrest and there might be a nationwide protest in opposition to it tomorrow… what Shahbaz Sharif and Rana Sana are doing shouldn’t be discovered within the historical past of Pakistan and the worst dictatorship is not going to be tolerated by journalists and the nation,” he stated.

Former minister and PTI chief Fawad Chaudhry stated, “I hope the judges will take discover of the contempt of court docket. There have been 15 SHOs current on the time of Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest.”

Journalist Kamran Khan stated with “sinking” approval ranking, PM Shahbaz-led authorities is in a state of panic. “Onslaught in opposition to freedom of speech continues with arrest of Imran Riaz Khan tonight just some days after an assault on Ayaz Amir Sb additionally in Islamabad. The capital now most harmful territory for critics of Govt,” he added.

“Tomorrow, PTI staff will protest in entrance of press golf equipment throughout the nation in opposition to the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan and the try to suppress freedom of expression,” introduced former minister Asad Umar on his official deal with.

Different PTI leaders, journalists and rights activists echoed the same sentiments whereas demanding the authorities involved to launch the journalist on the earliest.

“Imran Riaz Khan’s arrest is a slipshod try to win the battle of concepts by means of the barrel of a gun. These strategies have failed prior to now and can proceed to fail. Repeating them is madness,” rights activist Ammar Ali Jan wrote on his official deal with.

“The arrest of Imran Riaz is inappropriate. You possibly can object and disagree with him on his affiliation, however it’s not proper to suppress freedom of expression by means of arrests. The arrest of Imran Riaz can’t be supported,” wrote journalist Azaz Syed.

A video shared on social media confirmed folks chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” and “cease violence in opposition to journalists” slogans as Imran Riaz was taken into custody.

The journalist will be seen standing behind bars within the different.

Individuals additionally took to Lahore’s Liberty Chowk to protest in opposition to the arrest of Imran Riaz Khan.

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we could also be led, like sheep to the slaughter,” senior political analyst and former diplomat Zafar Hilaly wrote in a Twitter put up.

(With further enter from Information Desk)